On Monday, the New England Patriots signed former Super Bowl champion cornerback Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60M contract with $34.5M guaranteed in the deal, per multiple reports. The signing came just over an hour after the start of the NFL’s open negotiation window.
In 2024, New England struggled against teams with more than one prominent receiver. In Week 11, the Los Angeles Rams’ receiver duo of Puka Nacua and former triple-crown winner Cooper Kupp gashed the Patriots’ secondary. Nacua and Kupp recorded a combined 229 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Some of those coverage issues were due to a lack of pressure coming from New England’s defensive front, but the team needed another boundary cornerback who could play sticky coverage. Davis brings that to the table.
In 2024, the 28-year-old recorded 11 pass deflections, two interceptions, 56 total tackles, and a forced fumble, helping the Detroit Lions to a top-five ranked defense, per Pro Football Focus.
Before his stint in Detroit, Davis spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl with the team during the 2021 season. During those six seasons, Davis recorded 324 tackles, 73 pass deflections, and nine interceptions.
Beyond his on-field contributions, he brings championship experience to a relatively young cornerback room. Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, Isaiah Bolden, Christian Gonzalez, and Marcellas Dial Jr. all have under four years of playing experience in the NFL.
Prior to free agency, New England did not have a single player on its roster with Super Bowl-winning experience. Now, the Patriots have two Super Bowl champions on their roster in Davis and former Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams.
This marks a new age for New England’s defense following a down year.
